(CNN) - Three sources close to Republican Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana tell CNN they are told he will announce he is not running for president in 2012 and will instead begin exploring a run for governor.

These sources say he has been flattered by the efforts to nudge him into the GOP presidential race but, as one of the sources put it, "he is a realist and kept coming back to questions about the fund-raising." The second source said some around Pence also have reminded him of the difficulty of mounting a presidential campaign from the House, and noted that, at age 51, he would have a better platform to explore a presidential run if he first was elected governor.
The Republican congressman from Indiana's 6th Congressional District easily won re-election in November, beating his Democratic challenger by more than a two- to-one margin.

The third ranking House Republican then announced that he would step down at the end of the year from his leadership role as Republican Conference Chairman, sparking more speculation that Pence might be gearing up for a White House bid or a run for Indiana governor.

The current governor, Republican Mitch Daniels, is term limited, and also the subject of speculation over a possible White House bid. Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, also a Republican, announced late last month that she would not make a bid for the state's top job, increasing speculation that Pence would run for Indiana governor.

While Pence polls in the low single digits in most national surveys on a hypothetical 2012 GOP nomination match-up, he did create a lot of buzz by winning the presidential straw poll at the Values Voter Summit in September.

Earlier this month, two separate groups launched efforts to draft Pence make a bid for the White House.

If he announces for governor, a state ethics law passed last year would prevent Pence from campaigning immediately for the job. The measure prohibi
ts political fundraising by candidates for statewide office until the completion of the state legislature's session, which this year is scheduled to finish up in late April.

soundoff(40 Responses)

I am not a republican but I have to think that this is a very shrewd move on Pence's part. Much better to run for president as a former governor.

January 27, 2011 04:37 pm at 4:37 pm |

JW

Pence will make a great governor for Indiana. I am from Indiana and I will vote for him.

January 27, 2011 04:37 pm at 4:37 pm |

GCV

And why is this breaking news?

January 27, 2011 04:42 pm at 4:42 pm |

Pretzel Logic

So a guy who had no chance decided he had no chance?

January 27, 2011 04:42 pm at 4:42 pm |

stanton cummings

you don't like hearing the truth do you???

January 27, 2011 04:43 pm at 4:43 pm |

Sgt Schultz

Makes much more sense for him to run as Gov. The GOP needs to get their act together first. The Conservatives are getting pulled in too many directions...it's a mess.

January 27, 2011 04:43 pm at 4:43 pm |

GP

Aren't career politicians grand?

January 27, 2011 04:44 pm at 4:44 pm |

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA - John "The Weeper of the House" Boehner

I think Pence knows he has no chance in hell of winning. Why won't the other fascists scum in his party follow suit.

January 27, 2011 04:44 pm at 4:44 pm |

Jerod Keller

He is a freshman representative who was just elected to Congress. Perhaps he should focus on doing the job he was elected to do instead of focusing on the next job already.

January 27, 2011 04:46 pm at 4:46 pm |

Phil in KC

I suspect he decided the field was too full. Seems like half the people who have an (R) next to their names are looking at running.

January 27, 2011 04:47 pm at 4:47 pm |

Jason Pence

Take it from me, I was born a Pence. The last thing our country needs is a Pence in office. I will leave it at that. :-)

January 27, 2011 04:48 pm at 4:48 pm |

Bob

Never heard of this guy!

January 27, 2011 04:49 pm at 4:49 pm |

jw

Thank God one less obstructionist right winger to worry about. With this news and Sarah Palins career ending gaffes that's two of heard down. Bachmann has no chance and will never get the nomination, I pretty sure they are going to go with Romney he is the only one with any national name recognition but he is a mormon and right wing christrians consider mormons a cult so that will be interesting. Watching these Republicans rip each other to shreds in the primary will be better than Jersey Shore!

January 27, 2011 04:49 pm at 4:49 pm |

SPLAT!~

Whew! Dodged that bullet!~
Looks like your in the crosshairs (surveyors of course) Indiana!~

January 27, 2011 04:50 pm at 4:50 pm |

Ed

The election process should take 6 months from declaration of running to elections. The permanent running for an office that this country is obsessed with is really crippling progress.

January 27, 2011 04:57 pm at 4:57 pm |

ABM

He saw the light and realized that running for the Presidency he would actually have to do work. It was a pipe dream if he thiough he would have a chance at winning. This job is much much harder than reading lines at speeches – take a hint "potential WH seekers".

January 27, 2011 04:57 pm at 4:57 pm |

bobcat1a

Jerod keller
He's not a freshman. He is in his sixth term.

January 27, 2011 05:03 pm at 5:03 pm |

Joe from CT, not Lieberman

I guess he figured because he wasn't as strident as Michelle Bachmann, he had no chance of being heard.

January 27, 2011 05:06 pm at 5:06 pm |

Mikeh106

@ Jared Keller – I'm no Pence – or any Republican – fan, but facts are facts. He's been a Congressman since 2001. Just reelected to his 6th term last NOV.

January 27, 2011 05:09 pm at 5:09 pm |

ABE

Republicans are coming out of the wood works to run in 2012. This tells you that the Republicans do not have any viable contender and we are ready to see a turf war to see who is going to come on top. I understand we do not have a top contender but it will be interesting to watch. They are all in for the countdown. No real leadership quality in the bunch.

January 27, 2011 05:11 pm at 5:11 pm |

Renny

This guy wont even win the primaries, WHOS PENCE???????//

January 27, 2011 05:13 pm at 5:13 pm |

keeth in cali

He knows he wouldn't win anyway. Many in the GOP are fond of saying that America is a center-right country when they speak of Obama. The same is true when we speak of Pence. He's hard-right, not center-right. He wouldn't ever win the presidency.

January 27, 2011 05:30 pm at 5:30 pm |

kayla

He's smarter than i thought.

January 27, 2011 05:33 pm at 5:33 pm |

Isaac

good... the GOP has enough ignorant fools to pick from. The last thing we need is someone so brainwashed and uneducated that they'll admit publicly things like evolution not being real and that more tax cuts for the rich is a good idea. They've already got Sarah Palin for that kind of idiocy. Too bad Mitch Daniels can't stay on as Governor for another term.... i actually like him.